Bottle-filling machine.



0. L. BASTIAN.

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE. APPLIGATIO FILED EEB.13, 1905.

' Patented Aug. 1 5

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

w r Elin 'Cf LIBASTIAN.

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1s, 1905.

1,000,971.-v Y Patented Aug.15,1911.

\ 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

III

C. L. BASTIAN. BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE A PPLIG IIIIIIIIIII 1:13.13. 1905;v `1,000,971. Patented Aug. 15,1911.

, BSHEETS-SHEET 3.

G. L. BASTIAN'. BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB.13,' 1905.

1,000,971. Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

` l5 SHEETS-slum 4.

C, .1..VBASTIANI BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE. v APPLICATION FILED PEB.13,1905.

1,000,971 Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

, 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. BASTIAN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, T0 A.

BOTTLERS MACHINERY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE-FILLING- MACHINE. .y

Specification of Letters Patent. i PatentedvAg. 15, 1911.

Applicationl led February 13, 1905. Serial No. 245,522.l

useful Improvements in Bottle-Filling Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

My invent-ion relates to bottle filling. ma-

chines, and is designed primarily to serve` as a counter-pressurefilling machine, al-l though capable, by the omission of certain parts,to serve as a direct gravity llin machine'; the machine of the inventioneing capable of handling all fluids, whether thick or thin and whetherstill or under pressure..

The machine is of that general type em-` ploying a rotary tank head fromwhich are suspended an annular series of valves adapted for coperatonwith the bottles raised thereto'and retracted therefrom by a se- `riesof rotatable and vertically movable loottle holders carried by the mainrotary stem or upright of the machine.

Myl invention has for its principal objects rovide' a machine of thischaracter which shall be capable of'much greater speed than machines ofthis class now in' use; which shallbe capable of handling bottlesofwidely varying kinds: which shall treat the bottles with a minimum ofjar and shock, thus.

reducing vthe liability of foaming and break- 'age;' to produce amachine in which the liquid discharged in the snifting operation ispreservechthus conducing to economy; and generally to provide animproved and highly eflicient 'filling machine having a Wide range ofapplication in respect both to the materials illed and the sizes inwhich itis put up, and allowing for the variation in sizes of the sameclass ofy bottles that are usual in commerce.

To these ends' the invention resides in a rotary bottle 'filling machinepossessing the novel features of construction and manner of operationsubstantially as hereinafter described and more particularly pointed outin the claims.

My. invention, in arv preferred mechanical form, lis illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure l is a central vertical sectional view through thecompletem'acliine; Fig. 2

'is `an enlarged top plan View of the station* member of an air-valvemechanism con-A trolling the How of compressed air to and from thebottle lifts, the main upright shaft appearing in cross-section. Fig. 43is an enlarged vertical 'sectional view through the air-valve mechanismcontrolling the flow of air to and from the bottle lifts, and showingvalso the means for driving the rotary memtional view of the lowerportion of the machine frame showing a source of compressed air drivenfrom the driving shaft.; Flg. 7 1s a cross-sectional viewillustrating.themeans 'for'driving the bottle-withdrawing mechanism fromthe main upright shaft of the' machine; Fig.l 8 is a longitudinalsectional view on an enlarged scale of a bottle-chargp ing valvemechanism; Fig. 9 is a view of the valve shown in Fig. S in a plane atright angles to the latter figure, certain parts appearing in elevationand others' in vertical section; and Fig. l0 isa cross-sectional view ofthe valve shown in Figs. 8 and 9, on the line 10-10 of the latterfigures.

Referring to the drawings, 12 -designates the circular base-plate onwhich is rigidly mounted a stationary pedestal comprising a 'hollowcircular base member 13 and a vertical cylindrical member 14 which is annularly cored to form a -compressed air reservoir 15 and acentralvsleeve 16v that constitutes an extended bearing for the lowerport-ion of the main upright shaft. 17 stepped centrally on thebase-plate 12, preferably by means of anti-friction bearings indicatedat'lS. Rest-ing `on the upper end of the main upright shaft v17 is acircular' head in the form of a tank 19 adapted to be closed in anair-tight manner-by a lid or cover 20 that may be' secured thereto asmeans of hinge-bolts 21 .engaging forked lugsv 22 on the periphery jofsaid cover. The upper' portionv ofth'e shaft 17 has one or.

more longitudinal feathers 23, and beneath` the latter .a threadedyportion'24. Secured to the underside of the tank '19' centrally.'

thereof is a ydepe'm'ling sleeve 25, \.vhich'.sur`

rounds the shaftl'l' a'ndh'as one or more grwvellgag'ng the feather orfeathers 23.

On the lower end of the sleeve 25 is rotatably secured a nut 26internally threaded to engage the threaded portionl 24 of the shaft, byrotating which nut the tank may be raised or lowered relatively to theupper endofwthe shaft 17 while `still maintaining its driven relation4to the latter.

.. Referring next to Figs. 1 and 3, 27 designates as an entirety ahorizontally disposed plate that surrounds the shaft 17 and 1s securedin an air-tight manner tol the upper end ofthe air reservoir casing 14as by the bolts 28 and the interposed packing v29. This plateconstitutes a stationary member of the 'air-valve mechanismv thatcont-rolsvthe fiow of compressed air from the yunderlying reservoir tothe several air lifts of the bottles hereinafter described. As shown in'Figs. 3 and 5 said plate has a pairof arc-shaped cored passages and 31separated by vertical websv 32 and 33, the

former bein approximately 240 degrees in' extent and te latterapproximately 120 degrees in extent. To the passage 30 thecompressed-air in the underlying reservoir 15 lis admitted through avertical port 34, and

from the passage 31 the exhaust air isdischarged through. a horizontalport- V'lThrougli-the upper wall of the passageway- 30 is formed: anarc-shaped port 36 coextensive longitudinally with the passageway itself;;,and through ythe upper wall-of the passageway 31 is formed a similarlarcshaped port '37 coextensive longitudinally with said-passageway. Theplate 27 above Vthe inlet and exhaust passageways last described 4isprovidedy with a short vertical `annular wall 27a forming around thecentral upright shaft 17 an annular socket in which is seated .astationary rubber washer 38, superimposed on which is a fibrous Washer38a of similar section, which washers are provided with arc-shaped ports39 and 40, coextensive and registering with the lower face ofthe blockand are adapted to -register With the passageways 39 4and 40 ofunderlying ports 36 and 37 and restrained by any suitable means againstrotation. Seated on said washer'is a revolving member of the air-valvemechanism, consisting of an annular block 41 loosely surrounding theshaft- 17. Said block seats at its lower end on the Washer 38a, and isprovided with a 'plurality'of radially extending nipples 41a (Fig. 4),through which nipples and the body of thev block arev formed acorresponding series of ducts 42 that open through the the washer 38, asclearly Shown in Fig. 3.

lSurrounding and connected to the shaft 17 as by a set-screw 43 is alsleeve 44, between the lowerlend of which and the upper face.

of the revoluble air-valve member 41 is a coil spring 45, the oflice ofwhich is to press the latter to its seat on the fibrous washer in anairtight manner.Vj Depending from the sleevev 44 are a series of lugs44a adaptedto contact corresponding upstanding lugs 41b on the'rotaryvalve lmember 41, so as to drive the latter. Extending radially from thesleeve 44 are a series of arms 46 (Fig. 1), each carrying a cylindricalholder 46a in which is secured a cylinder 47 The upper end of thecylinder is closed by a head or cap 48 provided with a port 48 andcentrally apertured- :tor the passage therethrough of a square pistonrod 49 on the upper end of which is mounted a shoe 50 adapted tosupporta bottle 51. vTo the lower end of the cylinder is ailixed asuitable cap 52 having an inwardly projecting portion 5.2a that isprovided with two air ducts. One of these, marked 53, communicates withthe interior of the cylinder at its A lower end, while the other, marked54, com'- municates with the interior ofthe cylinder slightly above itslower end. The outer ends of said ports 53 and 54 communicate freelywith an open pipe 55, the upper end of which is attached to one of thethreaded nipples 41a of the revoluble 'air-valve plate 41. To the lowerend of the piston rod 49 I is secured a piston or plunger head 56.

The base of the tank 19 has an annular'v series of openings 19aL formedtherethrough,"

casting 62.' The plate-57 and valve` block 62 are centrally apertured toslidingply lit a tube 63' mounted therein and packediagainst leakage bysuitable stuffing boxes 64 and65.- Between theglands of said stuiingboxes is interposed a compression coil spring 66.; and fast on the tube63 inside the spring 66 is a collar 67, constituting a lower abutmentfor an inner smaller coil spring 68, theL upper end of which also abutsagainst the gland of the upper stuiiing box. The upper end of the`tube`63 is surniounted by a valve plate ordisk. 69, the lower`operative face `of which is provided with a fibrous or other packingring 70, immediately beneath which the walls of the tube 63 are providedwithone or more ports 71. `The, valve block 62 is cored to form a seriesofA valve-controlled passages and ducts to control the passage ofcompressed air from thel head or tank A19 into the bottles land theegress of such compressed air from the latter` as the bottles arefilled, substantially as fllows. 72 and 73 designate a pair of verticalpassageways arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the. centraltube 643,-in the former' of which 76. The lower ends of the passageways7:2

and 73 both connect by horizontal ducts 77' andv 78, respectively, witha central vertical Aannular opening if' 9'extending through the BehindandV -betiveen the vertical passageways 72 and A73 lower end of thevalve block.

is cored a vertical cylindrical chamber 80 (Fig. 9), in which isa rod81having fast thereon a pair of separated pistonheads 82 and 83. Said.rod 81 extends above the valve block andA is pro-vided with a head `ornut 84, between which Aand the upper end of the cylinder is coil spring85 normally tending to maintain the pistons 82 and 83 in the elevatedposition shown in Fig9. The casing of the cylindrical chamber 80 haslaterally' projecting nozzles 86 and 87, the former of which has anaxial duct 8S tapping the cylindrical chamber 80 substantially midway ofits length, While the latter has an axial duct 89 tapping said chamberat its lower end. From the 'chamber S0 at a'pointslightly below the4inlet of the duct 88 thereto extend ducts 90 and 91,

the former leading to the upper end of the lshaft 101.

vein-valve 74, andthe latter to the upper end of the 'vertical passage73 above the plug valve 75, asv plainly indicated in Figs:

8 and 10. The inlet nozzle 86 is connected by a flexible hose 92(Fig. 1) with the interior of the taiik 19 at or near its upper end;while the discharge nozzle 87 has attached thereto a similar flexiblehose that depends therefrom and debouches into an annular trough 91secured to the central frame 1l, substantially opposite the lower endsof the air cylinders.

The cover 20 ot' the tank head has a centrally disposed jiluid `inletpipe 95 which may extend to within a short distance of the bottom of thetank. There the machine is employed as a counter-pressure machine for4the filling of fiuldor hquors more or less 11npregnated with air orgas, and which consequently arel liable to foam, l provide in the cover20a short tube 96 adapted to permit the discharge of air is the liquidenters up toa certain point, sai-id tube being provided on its lower end.with a valve seat 90a; and inthe tank l provide a hinged float 97 whichcarries a valve 98 adapted to close said seat .on the rise of the fluidand thereby confine the 'body of airrfemaining in the tank above theliquid, andthus, by)creating a pressure ythis spaceair. discharged fromthe bottles equal to t-hehyd-'rostatic head of the inco1n ingy liquid,to thereby arrestthe inflow of such liquid until the height' 1n the tank1s lowered bythe filling of the bottles Into viiows, and suclhexcess isrelieved automatically as the liquidfalls, since the falling of`the'iloat retracts the valve from its seat,

ing rotary motion to the'main upright shaft 17 and the various partscarried thereby consists, as herein shown, of a horizontal" worm wheel99 fast on thelower `end of 'the shaft and housed within the hollow base.13, said Worm wheel being driven by aA worm 100 on a drive-shaft -101'disposed'substantially tangential tosaid Worm wheel.

The air maintained under pressure in thevtu- .bular reservoir of themachme for operatlng.

the bottle lifts may be 'drawn from any-suitable or convenient source;but in order bo make the` machine completeand self-contained, Ipreferably provide an air-compressing device in intimate associationwith the machine and operated from the Source air compressor cylinder102 (Figs, lv and 6) that discharges into the`"reservoir 15, the-pistonrod 103 .of said cylinderbeingdriven through a pltman 104 from a gear' lof power that. drives the machine itself. For thi-s purpose I haveherein shown' an 105 mountedon a counter-Shaft' .1064 and driven by aProvision for discharging tles mechanically is aorded' by means 0f astar wheel -108 that is mountedon the u per end of a vertical shaft 109opposlte and -extending into the circular driven from the main uprightShaft ITL-by means of a sprocket 110 on the latterrdr'iving .a link belt111 which in turn actufas .f

pinion 107 tast on the drive-V the sued bot..

ath trav`` ersed by. the bottles in'the rotation' of ,the machine, saidyshaft109 being conveniently -f ses gasket 113, confined in4 place byaring 11.4"-I i screwed onto the fiange 624. The lower tace of thegasket and the opening lofllthe ring are beveled or concaved, asshown'in Fig. 8, to form a'suitable seatfor air-tight engagement withthe upper end of a `bottle; and, in order to insure theentryfof' thetubes 63 into` the necksfof the bottles as well as 'to' accurately guidethe latter into perfect registration with the valve seat, (I preferablyemploy a bell 115 carried by a bracket 116 that is mounted to 'slidefreely on a vertical rod 117 passingtlirou'gh apertures in upper andlower lugs 1.16a and`116b of the bracket, sa-id'ro'd 117 beingremovably;- secured as by' setscrews 118 and 119 in notched lugs 12C-and121 carried bythe base of the tank andthe revolvingbottle .carrier 46,respectively. Theupper contracted end ofthe bell 115 is axiallyapertured slidingly receive the dependingKfilhng-'tube 63,

the bellL sliding over said tubjeias Ait risesifli- -scribed, is asfollows,

the latter by the sides "f air reservoir is air, and thexmachlne 1sotherwise in condil tion foroperation, the liquidtojbe lled is Theopening-.in the upper andy offthe bell is ofsomewhat greater.dlameterthan the up-v per 'end ofthe neck Lofzfthe* bottle, so thatlthe latter in registering with the valve seat allowedto flow into thetank and, raising the float 97 4and closing the valve 98, compresses theair above its surfacev to a degree of pressure equaling thehydrostatichead or pressure ofthe liquid at 'its source of supply.. Thepistons 82 and 83 of the valve'mechanismbeing in the relative positionshown in -F-i -9,the' compressed air Vinthe tank is he d against'escapeso lon as the bottle. -charging valve most posit-ion lshown therein. Theshoes of the air lifts beingsupplied with as soon as each ofthe ducts 42of the revolving air valves passes into registration-with the passageway39 thatcommun'icates with x the passage ofthe stationary member of theair valve, the compressed air .from the vtank passes freely and quicklypassage 79 .to the interiorreservoir 15 flowsinstantlythrough the tube55 and the lower 'duct 63to the underside of piston 56,'causingA thelatter to rise and carrying with -it the superposed bottle 51. As soonas the pistonhas passedV the auxiliary duct 54 an additional supply ofcompressed air l'enters the cylinder casing the piston and its loadtorise more rapidly..

As soon as the neck of the bottle'enga es the bell 115 it is centered bythe latter gif not previously in true axial alinement with vthe.whereupon the bell is car-v valve tube 63), ried upwardly on its slidingsupport, the lower end ofthe tube 63 entering'the mouth of' the bott-le.'As'son as the upper end of the bottle contacts the elastic gasket 113of the filling valve mechanism, the valve block 62 begins to rise on top-of the bottle being guided by the suspension rods 59 on which itslides. ,As soon as the risen sufficient-ly to lower the piston 82 to apoint beneaththe lateral ducts'90 and 91, the inlet passage 8 8v 'isplaced in vcommunica- .tion with said ducts whereupon the compressedairrabove the fluid in the head or duct 90,'vein-valve 74, duct 77 andannular of the bottle, the

' compressed air to a more limited extent also finding its wary throughthe 7 9, and the inflow depending uponthe extentto which the gpluggvalye75 is setto iow. TIn this manner equilibrium of pres- "95 sureinthe headand bottle is quickly estab.

throttle and limitthe mechanism 1s in/its lowerbottles, and the machinebeing started in operation,

valve casing has through the 'ductsV 91', 73 and' Locom;

lished' before theflow of liquid begins. On Y the still further upwardArise ofthe .valve 4block-62, th'ej gland of thelower packingvvboxstrikes theL collar 67 which is fast on vthe tube '63,'an'dr'aisesthe-valve 69, lthus al# lowing. flownjof the liquid to be charged intothebottle through theopening .ori-'openings 71.*a'nd. the interior ofthe tube." vBy reason Aof the-'described equilibrium of pressure in theltank and bottle., this ow occurs solely by gravity, which, together withthe con-- densed condition of the air surrounding said.. liquid,eliminates thebubbling and foaming that would otherwise occur, 'orreduces it to commencing to flow, and by .irnpeding the.

vfall lor lflowv of the liquid to still further prevent foaming,Iproviding, in fact,.a me.- chanical means of retarding the flow inaddition vto the physicalmeansprovided by the establishment of head andbottles. By the time the bottle is -charged with liquid, the revolvingmember equal pressures inj the tank- 41 of the air-valve mechanism hascarried the air conduit passage to the bottle-lifting cylinder overtheweb 32 or 33 (according.

to lthe direction of rotation). and brought itl 'into communication withthe exhaust through the passageway 31. Thereupon the vbott-lelift beginsto descend, forcing the out of the cylinder to the atmosphere, thevdescent occuring more slowly` in its final movement after -tliepistonhas passed the lateral inlet duct 54. With the descent Aof the bottleand the lvalve block 62 (forced downwardly bythe spring 66)* the pistonsair- 83 and 82 rise, until, just before the bottle breaks its connectionwiththe seat 113t-lie piston S2 uncovers the mouthl of theduct 91,'

thus permitting such air or gas pressure as Vremains inthe neck of thebottle to by a quick movement through the passages 79, 78, 73, l91,cylinder 80, and exhaust passage '89, into the driptube 93, -thussnifting the bottle. So much ofthe fluid as is thus blown off in thefinal'op'eratin is directed vby thev drip tube i 93 `into the stationarytrough 94, from whichl latter it may be d-is- .such residue vin the casey' charged as desired Y of valuble liquors being saved and returnedtothe original 'source of supply. Each blow'j out bottle, whileundergoing the above described operation, travelsj around approximatelythree-quarters of' a single revolution-ofthe machine, thelilled bottlesbeing withdrawn?- from the shoes ofthe airlifts one by one in successionby the star wheel: 108', their places being suppliedwith empty bottlesby the attendant in charge. j

Where the mach'ne is used in the filling of heavy liquids, vsuch 'ascats`up ior other. notgcharged vwith air or "gas and-4 13e liquidshen`ce not liableto rbubble and foam'during?.`

the atmosphere or With any feed tank attached to it:

The described pneumatic means for raising the bottles into engagementwith the filling valve mechanism and maintaining them in such engagementduring the filling operation possesses numerous advantages overthermechanical means heretofore' employed in such machines, as follows.action is more elastic and hence produces less shock and jar upon thebottles and is therefore less liable to break or injure the.

latter. The air lift mechanism permits a considerable variation in thesize or height ofl'the bottles Without requiring readjustment orresetting of the parts of the machine conformable thereto. The doubleinlet -for the compressed air at the loiver end of the air lift cylinderis of importance, as it provides for a slow initial rising movement ofthe bottle, permitting a gradual centering of the bottle. affordingample^ time to the rmerator-in loading the machine `and disposing of thefilled bottles, and avoiding concussions or shocks in startinot theup-Ward movement of the bottle. The greater part of the downwardmovement of the piston is comparatively rapid because the air willescape from 'the cylinder through the tivo ports 53 and 54, -but afterthe'piston` passes the port 5l .an air cushion will be formed at thebottom ofthe, cylinder by reason of the restricted outlet through thesingle port 53, and this air cushion avoids shocks or jars which wouldhave a tendency to make the beer foam. Aside'from the capability of themachine in handling bottles of a given size presenting variations inheight due to irregularities or imperectionsof manufacture b v reason ofthe air lift-feature; and t-he vertical adjustability aifordedby the nut26, the ma' chine is also readily adapta-ble tothe filling of varioussizes of bottles, such as quarts,

pints and splits. To adapt a machineto the filling of pints'and splitsthe ring 114 is Withdrawn and replaced by a sleeve 114a of suitablelength, itself trminating in a rnbber-lined mouth 113il (similar to thegasket 113) adapted to receive the head of the smaller bottle, asindicated in Fig..9. This amounts in effect to a longitudinal adjustmentof the filling valve-block to accommodate various sizes' or heights ofbottles to be filled, The' presence of the compressed air reservoiryWithin-the frame of the machine itself-conduces both' to economy --ofspace andto the maintenance of a substantially steady and .uniformpressure of the air supply to the bottlelifts. The trough'94 Which Theinasmuch as said valve mechanism may he substituted bv other valvemechanism operating in substantially the same Way and effecting thesameresults, I do not claim the novel features of said valve mechanismin the present application, b ut have made them the subject matter ofacompanion application led'on the 12th day of April, 1905, Serial No.255,153'. i r

It is evident that the machine as hereinabove described and shown inthe'drawings might be considerably modified and varied' .in respect todetails of construct-ion and the -relativepdisposition of the partsWithout departing" from the principle orsacrifi'cing any of the benefitsof the invention. Hence, I do not limit the invention to such detailsofV construction and varrangement except to t-he extent indicated inspecific claims.

I claim:

1. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable uprightshaft, a tank carried by said shaft"V a series-ofA bottle filling valvesconnected ".o said tank, a series of fluid pressure bottle lifts carriedby said shaft, and a valve controlling the fluid snpply vto said bottlelifts and operated during the rotation of'said shaft.

.2. In a bottle filling machine, the combination cf a. rotatablenprightshaft, a, tank carried by said shaft, a series of bottle filling valvesconnected to said tank, al series of fluid 'pressure 'l bottle liftsicarried by said shaft, and a valve connect-ed to and operated to saidbottle lifts.

3. In a been suing machine, the combination of a rotatable 4uprightshaft-,ay tank carried by said shaft, a series of bottle filling 'valvesconnected to said tank, a series of fluid pressure bottle lifts 'carriedbyrsaid'f" shaft, and a valve connected to and operated by said shaftfor controlling the fluid' supply to and from said bottle liftsu 4. In abottle filling machine, thecombiyf, nation of abase, av rotatableupright shaft mounted Ion .thenbasev a Atank carried by bv said shaftfor controllingl thefluid supply said' straft, a series ofbottle'filling valves connected to saidtank, a series of fluid pres-I v,sure bottle liftsA carried by said shaft, a {ini-d pressure reservoirinthe. base', :and an auto'- maticallyoperated valve for controlling thelLiso"v flovv of fluid from said reservoir to the boty tle lifts.

5. in a bora@ filling machine, the Combination of a rotatable 'uprightshaft, 'a ta-nk carried by said shaft,v a series of bottle'lillingvalves connected to said tank, a series of fluid pressure' bottle liftscarried by said shaft, a fluid pressure reservoir, and a two part valve,for controlling the flow of fluid from said reservoir to the bottlelifts, one part of said valve being made to rotate with the shaft.

6. In abottle lling machine, the combination of a rotatable uprightshaft, a tank carried by said shaft, a series of bottle filling valvesconnected to said tank, a series of .fluid pressure bottle lifts carriedby said shaft, a fluid pressure reservoir, and atwo part' valve, .forcontrolling the flow of fluidv from said reservoir to the bottle lifts,one

' part of said valve being made to rotate with mounted on the base, atank carried by said shaft, a series of bottle filling valves connectedto said tank, a series of fluid pressure bottle lifts carried by saidshaft', a fluid con 's trolling valve comprising a fixed member'communicating with the fluid supply and" a.v movablemember, and a fluidpipe connecting eachbott-le lift and said movable memloer.

' 9. In a bottle filling machine, the-combi'-v -A `nation of a base, arotatable uprightshaft mounted on the'base, a'tank carried by saidshaft, 'a series of bottle filling valves Vconnected to said tank, aseries of fluid pressure bottle lifts carried by said shaft, and a fluidcontrolling-valve comprising a stationary member having an inlet passagecommunicating with the fluid-.supply and a movable sage.

member having a series of ports each `connected lwith a bottle lift andadapted to be moved into registration With 'said inlet pas '10.-'y In .abottle filling machine, the combi-A nation of a base, a rotatableupright shaft mounted bn'the'baSe, a tank `carried by said shaft,*alscrlesof .bottle filling valvesj con- .nectedto said tank, a seriesoffluid pressure bottle lifts carried by said shaft. and a fluidcontrollingl valve comprising avstation-4 8. In a'bott-le fillingmachine, thecombt. nation of a base, a rotatable upright shaftary memberhaving a fluid inlet and ailuid'" outlet passage, the formercommunicating with the fluid supply, and a movable memf ber having aseries of ports each communieating with a bott-le lift and adapted to bemoved int-o registration with said passages;

Il. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a base. a rotatableupright shaft Y mounted on said base, a tank carried by said shaft, aseries 'of bottle filling valves connected to 'said tank, a series offluid pressure bottle lifts carried by saidA shaft, and sa fluidcontrolling valve comprising a station ary member mounted on the baseand having fluid inlet and exhaust passages, the former communicatingwith the fluid supply, and a movable member `madeto rotate with said bemoved into registration with said pas- .ages

12. In a bottle filling machine, the fcombin'ation of a base, arotatable upright shaft -mounted on the base, a tank carried by said"s'haft, a series of bottle filling valves con-A nected to said tank, aseries of fluid pressure bottle lifts carried by. said shaft, and afluid controlling valve comprising a stationary member having a fluidinlet passage connect. ed With the fluid supply, and a rotatable mem-'ber carried by the shaft and provided with a series, of'ports eachvcommunicating with a bottle lift an'd adapted tofbe lmovedinto yieldingmeans for holding said movable `member seated against thestationarymemshaft and having a series of ports each communicating With a bottlelift and adapted to' registration with said inlet passage, and-- 13. Ina bottle filling machine, the combination of a base, a rotatable uprightshaft mounted on said base, a tank carried by said shaft, a series ofbottle. vfilling valves connected to said tank, a series of fluidpressure bottle lifts carried by said shaft, and

a main fluid cont-rolling' valve encircling nsaid' shaft and comprisinga stationary member having a fluid inlet passage and a movable membermade to vrotate with the shaft and having a s'eries of ports eachcommunicating with a bottle lift and adapted to .bemoved intoregistration with said passage, and a spring Hbearing downen the movablemember to hold it. against its seat on the stationary member.' f

14. In a. bottle-filling machine, the combination with a frame, acompressed air reservoir, an uprightshaftjournaled in said frane, a tankcarried b I said shaft, and a series of bottle-filling va vescarriedv bysaid tank, of afbottle-supporting frame key'd to said shaft and carryinga series of bottleraisingand lowering cylinders, and an air` -valvemechanismcommunicat-ing with said "reservo1r, said cylinders, and theatmosphere; said yvalve mechanism admitting compressed air to saidcylinders during a iso portion of thetravel of the latter around saidshaft and `discharging air therefrom during the remainder of saidtravel.

v 15. In a bottle-filling machine, the combination with a pedestal framehollowed to provide an annular compressed air reser- Voir, an uprightshaft journaled v.in and axially `ofsaid pedestal, a tank carried bysaid shaft, and a series of bottle-filling ,valvescarried by saidtank',.of a bottle-sup- -porting frame keyed to said shaftl and car- Irying a series of bottle-raising and lowering cylinders, a stationaryannular Valve member'secured to said pedestal and having inletA anddischargeports communicating with said reservoir and the atmosphere,respectively, a revoluble valve member mount-- ed on said stationaryvalve member and having'a series of ducts communicating successivelywith the inlet and discharge ports of said stationary member, andtubesconnecting said ducts with said'cylinders.

16. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable tank, aplurality of bottle filling valves carried by the tank, and a pluralityof fluid pressure bottle lifting mechanisms rotatable with the tank andlocated opposite the filling valves, each of said lifting mechanismscomprising a cylinder,

a piston working in the Cylinder, and means -for automaticallyregulating the supplyeof actuating fluid-to said .cylinder to impart tothe piston a" slow 1n1t1al upward movement and thereafter acomparatively rapid upward movement.

17.' In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable tank. aplurality of bottle Ifilling valves carried by the tank, and a pluralityof fluid pressure ybottle lifting mechanisms rotatable with the tank.and located opposite the filling valves, each of said lifting mechanismscomprising acylinder having two ports therein'arranged one above theother, a piston working in the cylinder, and means for supplying fluidAunder pressure to saidcylinder through said ports whereby the 'pistonhas imparted thereto a. comparatively slow movement while the fluid isentering the cylinder' l haust of actuating fluid from said cylinder toimpart to the piston a rapid movement for the greater part of itsdownward strokel and a comparatively slow'cushioned movement asthepiston approaches the limit of' V its downward stroke.

19. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable` tank, aplurality of bottle filling valves carried by the tank, and a pluralityoffluid'pressure bottle lifting mechanisms rotatable with the tankandlocated opposite thel filling valves, each of said lift-ing mechanismscomprising a cylinder having two ports therein arranged lone aboveptheother, and a pistonlwork'lng in the cylinder and adapted to have arapid? downward movement while the fluid is escaping through both portsand a retarded and cushioned movement after the piston passes .theupper'port.

20. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable'tank, aplurality of bott-le filling valves carried by the tank, and a pluralityof fluid pressure-bottlelifting mechanisms rotatable with the tank andlocated opposite the filling valves,'each of said i lifting mechanismscomprising ak cylinder, a p1ston workmg 1n the cyhnder, and means forautomatically vregulating the-supply .of' fluid to the cylinder and theexhaust of fluid therefrom to impart to the piston a comparatively slowmovement at the beginning of its upward stroke and a slow cushionedmovement at the end of its downward stroke.

21. In a bottle filling machine, thecombil nation of a rrotatable tank,a plurality. of'bot.

tle filling valves carried bythe tank and a plurality of fluid pressurebottle lifting 'mechanisms rotatable with the .tank and located oppositethe filling valves, each of said lifting mechanisms comprising acylinder having two ports therein arranged one above the other, a pistonworking' in the cyl- '1'05 inder, and means for supplying fluid underpressure to one of said ports to impart to the piston a slow initialupward movement and then to both ports to accelerate the movement of thepiston and for exhausting said fluid from the cylinder first throughboth ports and then through one port to impart tothe piston acomparatively rapid downward ,movement through the greater part of itsstroke while both ports are open and then retarding the movement of thepiston near the limit of its downward stroke when the fluid is beingexhausted through one port only. Y

22. 'In a bottleiilling machine, the combjl `nation of a rotatable tank,a plurality `of bottle filling valves connected to the tank,

anda plurality of fluid pressure bottle lifting mechanisms rotatablewith'the tank and located opposite the filling valves, each of saidlifting mechanisms comprising a cylinder having two ports arranged oneyabove the other, a fluid pressure'supply, means for conducting thefluid to and frm both ports of said cylinder, and an automatically oerated valve for controlling-the supply of uid a plurality of Huidvpressurebottlelifting mechanisms rotatable with the tank and l0-l catedopposite the filling Valves, each of said lifting mechanisms comprisinga cylinder having a port entering one end thereof and an auxiliary portcommunicating with the cylinder laterally near said end, means forsupplying fluid under pressure to and exhausting it from said ports, apiston, a piston-rod, and a bottle-rest actuated by said piston-rod.

24. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable tank, aplurality of bottle filling valves carried by the tank, and a pluralityof fluid pressurev bottle lifting mechanisms rotatable with the tankandv loinder having a double-ported cylinder-head,

; one port leading into the end of the cylinder and the other into theside of the cylinder near said end, meansfor supplying a Huid under`pressure to and exhausting it from said ports, a piston, a piston-rod,and a bottle-rest actuated by said piston-rod.

25. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a rotatable tank, aplurality of bottle filling Valves carried by the tank, and a pluralityof lHuid pressure bottle lifting mechanisms rotatable with the tank andlocated opposite 'the filling valves, each of said lifting mechanismscomprising a cylinder having its lower end closed by a doublepcrtedcylinder-head, one port whereof leads into the end of said cylinder andt-he other into its side near said end, means for supplying a motiveiuid to and exhausting it from said ports, a piston, a piston-rod, and abottle-rest carried on the upper end of said piston-rod.

26. 'Ina bottle-lling machineof the char- Copies of this patent may. beobtained'for acter described, lthe combination with a hollowvsupportmgframe containing a compressed air reservoir, of a vverticalrshaft Y depending from each valve, a series of bottle lifts carried bysaid shaft below the filling valves, and successively operated. andindependent means separate ,from the filling.

tubes for centering each bottle as it rises into registering engagementwith its fillingA valve and comprising a vertical guide adjacent to eachfilling tube, a bracket slidably mounted on said guide, and a bellcarried by said bracket to receive the mouth of the bottle.

28. In a bottle filling machine, the cqinbi-A nation of a rotatableupright shaft, a tank mounted on said shaft, a series of fillingv valvesconnected to said "tank, a filling tube depending from each valve, a.frame keyed to said shaft, a series of successively operated bottlelifts carried by said frame., and

independent means for centering each bottleas it rises into registeringengagement with its filling Valve and comprising a vertical guidesecuredat its ends tofsaid tank and frame behind each filling tube, abracket slidably mounted on said guide, and a'bell carried by saidbracket.

Witnesses:

` SAMUEL N. POND,

FREDERICK C. GOODWIN.

CHARLES L. *IiAS/TIANl

